Work Performance of the Ethics Committee for the Welfare of Animals Used in Animal Testing of the University of Novi Sad from 2016 to 2018

Summary An animal experiment can be defined as any procedure in which a live animal is used with the aim of testing a scientific assumption, gathering information, obtaining or testing substances or observing the effect of a particular measure on the animal, as well as using an animal in behavioral experiments. The Ethics Committee (EC) determines how animal testing shall be conducted and, in accordance with the Law on Animal Welfare, provides expert supervision of animal testing, organizes training courses for persons conducting testing, provides expert opinions to the minister regarding ethical and scientific justification of animal testing, and submits annual reports to the minister. The data used in this paper were derived in the course of work of the EC in the period between 2016 and 2018. The meetings of the EC were held on a regular basis and in accordance with the Rules of Procedure. Positive Opinions were issued for most of the submitted Applications (87.5%), while a smaller number was returned (6.25%) or directed to the Council for further consideration (6.25%). In several cases, the EC also issued Opinions that certain experiments are beyond its scope of authority and thus beyond its formal legal capacity. Based on the Application of a candidate, the EC also approved changes in previously issued Opinion to ensure consistency in the documentation. The Committee regularly submitted reports and there were no objections to its work. In accordance with the abovementioned, the performance of the EC can be considered efficient and successful, but it can be further significantly improved by more active effort of the individual members of the EC within their home institutions to educate candidates and raise awareness of the importance of the work performed by the EC.